Childwatch Lead Counselor - Perry

About the Role

The Childwatch Site Lead is responsible for creating a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment for children while their parents/guardians participate in YMCA activities. This position requires a dedicated and responsible youth development professional committed to providing high-quality care in the Childwatch program. The Site Lead teaches values, ensures safety, and facilitates structured play and educational activities for children, aligning with youth development principles and YMCA policies. The role focuses on delivering a positive experience for both children and parents/guardians, emphasizing the YMCA’s core values: honesty, respect, responsibility, caring, and faith.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the designated lead, ensuring compliance with all YMCA of Greater Houston and Youth Development standards.
• Oversee daily operations of the Childwatch program to maintain a safe, welcoming, nurturing, and engaging environment for all children.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the program site and equipment, including setting up and breaking down activity centers.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of all children and staff by monitoring activities, promoting safe behavior, and adhering to YMCA policies.
• Provide for children’s physical needs, including feeding, assisting with restrooms, administering first aid/CPR, and notifying parents/guardians of necessary diaper changes.
• Maintain accurate records such as attendance, incident reports, and compliance documentation.
• Conduct regular headcounts and ensure staff follow policies, providing redirection as needed.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to emergencies and incidents in alignment with YMCA protocols.
• Implement positive behavior management techniques to foster a respectful and inclusive environment while addressing children’s emotional needs.
• Communicate important information or observations to incoming staff regarding individual children.
• Conduct regular assessments to ensure compliance with youth development standards and organizational policies.
• Follow all organizational policies related to health and safety, child protection, and confidentiality.
• Oversee the implementation of age-appropriate activities, including structured and unstructured play as outlined in YMCA-approved curriculum.
• Encourage and facilitate positive social interactions among children and adapt activities to meet diverse needs.
• Maintain positive relations with children, parents/guardians, center operations, directors, and staff.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and trainings.
• Communicate regularly with parents/guardians regarding their child’s progress, behavior, and any concerns.
• Utilize designated software to accurately check children in and out of Childwatch.
• Ensure tablets and communication devices are fully charged, ready for use, and properly secured.
• Assist with executing retention plans to ensure high levels of participant engagement and satisfaction.
• Plan and implement lesson/activity plans that include formal and informal play, adhering to YMCA program models and quality standards.
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations, following mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
• Ensure youth are properly signed in and out, and only authorized adults are allowed in the facility.
• Adhere to policies related to boundaries with children and routinely monitor high-risk locations (e.g., bathrooms).

Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age.
• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• At least 1 year of experience working with youth at a childcare facility, church, school, or equivalent (preferred).
• Strong awareness of child safety and ability to respond to emergency situations appropriately.
• Must successfully pass CPR, First Aid, AED certifications, and Child Abuse prevention trainings.
• Ability to engage with children positively and create an environment that fosters learning and respect.
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate/developmentally appropriate program activities.
• Previous experience with diverse populations.
• Previous experience supervising others (preferred).
• Current record of tuberculosis examination and/or local health department regulations, examinations, and/or immunizations as required.
• Pass a local/state background and FBI fingerprinting check.

Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence and present information in one-on-one or small group settings.
• Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers, multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s, and perform operations using American units of money, weight, volume, and distance.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one- or two-step instructions and deal with standardized situations.

Physical Demands

• Maintain physical condition necessary for light to moderate lifting (up to 25 lbs with occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs).
• Perform bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, reaching, balancing, and crouching.
• Use hands and fingers to handle or feel, and demonstrate reach, speak, and hear.
• Utilize close and distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Endure prolonged standing, bending, stooping, walking long distances, hiking, climbing, and stretching.
• Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate equipment and activities.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work in a camp setting with exposure to sun, heat, and animals such as bugs.

Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily indoors during the Childwatch program, with some exposure to outdoor environments and weather conditions.
• Exposure to noise, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, sweat, spills, and messes within the facility.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Schedule

Part-time, typically seven days a week, with shifts including:

• Morning shift: 8 am – 1 pm
• Afternoon shift: 11 am – 4 pm
• Evening shift: 4 pm – 8 pm

Must be available to attend and participate in family nights, program activities, staff meetings, and staff trainings. Details will be provided in advance.